Shoe shank



May 7, 1929. H. G. JOSEPHSON SHOE SHANK Filed Sept. 29, 1926 menfoc l atented May 7, 1929.

UNITED STATES I 1,712,35ii PATENT OFFICE.

HELIWIER G. JOSEPI-ISON, OF SAUGU'S, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO JOHN L. SI'IEVENELL AND I-IELMER G. JOSEPI-ISON, TRUSTEES.

SHOE SHANK.

Application filed September 29, 1926. Serial No. 138,474.

My invention relates to a metal shank which is adapted to be secured to the leather in the arch of a shoe during manufacture, for the purpose of stiffening the arch and is a modification of the metal shank disclosed in the patent to Winchell 1,447,001 dated February 27, 1923.

The shank disclosed in the Winchell patent is characterized by a groove running lengthwise of the shank. The purpose of this groove is to impart stiffness to the shank as well as to give a transverse rounded effect to the arch of the finished shoe.

In the manufacture of some kinds of shoes, the use of the "Winchell type of shank is not feasible because of the fact that the longitudinal groove is too deep. In such a case, too great a rounded effect would be present in the finished shoe. This is caused by the building up effect of the shoe uppers where they are tacked to the leather shank and which Would underlie the metal shank when in position.

The object of the construction in the present shank is to make a cold rolled steel shank of sufficient strength and at the same time reducing the effective depth of the groove. If the longitudinal groove of the Winchell shank was merely reduced in depth, the shank would not have the necessary stiffness.

Referring to the drawing for a more complete disclosure of the invention:

Fig. 1 is a plan View;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an end elevation of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a section of Fig. 2 on the line 14.

In each end portion of the shank are fastening devices integral therewith for securing the shank in position on the leather. In the preferred embodiment these fastening devices consist of a pair of teeth 2 struck up from the metal strip. The body of the shank consists of a groove 3 running lengthwise thereof but terminating short of the ends of the shank. At each end of the shank are flat portions i. Running along each side of the shank are grooves 5 providing turned up edges 6, which as they approach the end of the shank are turned outwardly to provide flanges 7 so that the end portions of the shank can lie flat against the leather shank to which it is attached. It will be noted that the edges 6, especially along the center portion of the shank are not in the same horizontal )lane as the top side of the groove 3 and as particularly shown in Fig. at. By reason of this construction, this type of shank is particularly available where the ends of the uppers as tacked to the leather shank in the lasted shoe, are close together. Then the grooved portion 3 lies in the space between the ends of the uppers and the edges 6 lie in contact with the upper thereby providing a construction in which the transverse curvature of the finished shoe does not have an excessive height.

I claim:

1. A shoe shank comprising a strip of struck up metal curved longitudinally and provided with a depression extending substantially the length of the shank but terminating short of the ends, flat portions at the ends of the depression having clinching teeth extending therefrom and adapted to be drivon into the leather, a groove on each side of the depression comprising upstanding walls which are turned outwardly to provide flanges, the said depression and teeth extending outwardly of the longitudinal curve.

2. A shoe shank comprising a strip of struck-up metal curved longitudinally and provided with a depression extending substantially the length of the shank but terminating short of the ends, flat portions at the ends of the depression having clinching teeth extending therefrom and adapted to be driven into the leather, a groove on each side of the depression comprising upstanding walls which are turned outwardly to provide flanges, adjacent the said flat portions, the said depression and teeth extending outwardly of the longitudinal curve.

3. A shoe shank comprising a strip of struck up metal curved longitudinally and provided with a depression extending substantially the length of the shank and terminating short of the ends, flat portions at the ends of the depression having clinching teeth extending therefrom and adapted to be driven into the leather and a groove on each side of the depression comprising upstanding walls of less depth than the said depression, the said depression and teeth extending outwardly of the longitudinal curve.

4. A shoe shank comprising a strip of struck up metal curved longitudinally and provided with a depression extending substantially the length of the shank and terminating short of the ends, flat portions at the ends of the depression having clinching teeth extending therefrom and adapted to be driven into the leather and a groove on each sion, the said Walls being turned outwardly to provide flanges, the said depression and teeth extending outwardly of the longitudinal curve.

5. A shoe shank comprising a strip of struck up metal curved longitudinally and provided With a depression extending substantially the length of the shank and terminating short of the ends, fiat portions at the ends of the de )ression havin clinching teethextending therefrom and a opted to be driven into the leather and a groove on each 15 side of the depression comprising upstanding walls of less depth than the said depression, the said walls being turned outwardly to provide flanges adjacent the said flat portions, the said depression and teeth extend- 20 ing outwardly of the longitudinal curve.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto setmy hand this 28th day of September, 1926.

HELMER G. J OSEPHSON. 

